Tristan Repko delivered four Leopold Benches he built for Blue Mountain Wildlife as his Eagle Scout project. The benches are designed so you can sit on them either direction. If you face forward, you have a nice back rest. If you face backwards, the back rest becomes a support for your elbows while using binoculars or a camera. If you can’t see the picture above, click on Lynn’s Journal at the top of the newsletter and you will go to Lynn’s Journal on BMW’s website where the pictures will be visible. Thank you Tristan and Troop 249!

The Week’s Releases

Releases this week included a House Wren and a Mourning Dove. Below, Samantha releases the Mourning Dove at McKay Wildlife Refuge. It’s hard to see amongst all the foliage, but the dove landed on a branch of the tree in the second photo.

The Rehab Week in Review

Fortunately we continue to be fairly slow. This is the time of year when babies have grown up and been released and new cases are primarily the result of trauma. As a rule, trauma cases do not have a good outcome. There were just three raptor admissions this past week. One Western Screech Owl died before we could exam it. A second Screech Owl had a maggot infested wound just above its eyes with maggots also in its mouth. It was emaciated and in very poor condition. Since the prognosis for recovery was poor, the owl was euthanized.

Peregrine Falcon 22-379 was found near Joseph, OR. Our exam revealed a fracture at the head of the right humerus in the shoulder joint. A fracture is never good, but one involving the articulating surface of a joint will cause irreversible damage to the joint and result in a painful shoulder.  Peregrines are amazing athletes, diving at upwards of 200 miles per hour to catch other birds in mid-air. Euthanasia seemed the kindest option for this bird.

But, to end on a positive note, the new benches are mighty comfortable. Thanks again Tristan.